Canterbury Hosts Accreditation Apprentice

Canterbury Park has agreed to host the second Racing Officials Accreditation Program’s (ROAP) apprentice, Michael DuSchane. The ROAP Apprentice Program was launched in January with the goal of educating quality apprentices in all aspects of the racing industry, the racetrack, and all racing official positions, including the stewards’ stand, through a practical immersion program. ROAP places one or two apprentices each year.

"We are excited to once again place a well-qualified racing official candidate at an NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance accredited racetrack to gain the final skill set necessary to become an accredited official,” said Hugh Gallagher, ROAP chairman. “The apprentice program is yet another way ROAP enhances the integrity of racing. We are pleased to have a host track like Canterbury Park that has three ROAP accredited stewards in the stand and that remains committed to the safety and integrity of racing.”

“The ROAP Apprentice Program is a great opportunity for Canterbury Park to help a qualified apprentice gain the necessary hands-on skills required to be an official and steward,” said Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson.

Michael DuSchane, a graduate of Animal Science from the University of Minnesota, comes into the apprenticeship with a background as a licensed trainer for nine years in eight different racing jurisdictions. After deciding to embark on a career as a racing official, DuSchane began gaining experience working as a placing judge and a paddock judge and by performing various other duties in the racing office.

To become an apprentice, DuSchane completed the 60-hour ROAP Accreditation course and passed the oral, written, and race video examinations. DuSchane’s experience at Canterbury Park will count toward his requirement to become a flat racing official.

ROAP is seeking additional racetracks and racing commissions that are interested in hosting a ROAP apprentice for a training period. ROAP compensates the racetrack for the apprentice’s salary.

Representatives of racetracks or racing commissions can contact Cathy O’Meara at (859) 224-2702 or contactus@horseracingofficials.com for additional information. Apprentice candidates must submit a written application and resume to ROAP. The deadline for apprentices for 2013 is December 1.

Canterbury Park Holding Corporation owns and operates Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino, Minnesota’s only Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing facility. The company’s 62-day live race meet began on May 18 and ends September 3. In addition, Canterbury Park's Card Casino hosts “unbanked” card games 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering both poker and table games. The company also conducts year-round wagering on simulcast horse racing and hosts a variety of other entertainment and special events at its facility in Shakopee, Minnesota. For more information, please visit www.canterburypark.com.

ROAP, which receives primary funding from The Jockey Club and is based in its Kentucky office, is a 501(c) (6) organization whose board of directors is made up of representatives from 18 industry organizations and eight at-large representatives. Stewards and judges receive their accreditation and continuing education credits through this program. The website address for ROAP is horseracingofficials.com.